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A federal judge in Seattle yesterday sentenced a 60-year-old Carnation man with a long criminal past to 22 years behind bars for a violent holdup at a Bellevue jewelry store nearly five years ago.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Zilly gave Tommy Owen Hartz an exceptionally long sentence because of five previous convictions for armed robberies and assaults dating to 1971, and evidence from prosecutors that Hartz had plotted to escape custody by hiding a gun in a courtroom.

Prosecutors say Hartz had stockpiled unspecified items in his jail cell to use for an escape.

A federal jury convicted Hartz last year of armed robbery and being a felon with a firearm.

In July 2000, Hartz and another man, wearing masks, barged into the Gem Design store, 14310 N.E. 20th St., and ordered the lone employee into the backroom at gunpoint. They handcuffed the worker to a piece of steam equipment and made off with jewelry.

Redmond

Trails Commission applicants sought

The city of Redmond is looking for someone to fill a vacancy on the city Trails Commission, which advises city leaders on bike, pedestrian, horse and boat paths.

Applicants must live in Redmond or in the unincorporated King County area just east of the city.

The commission meets at 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center. The deadline to apply is April 8. To apply, call the mayor’s office at 425-556-2101 or get a form online at www.redmond.gov

Kingsgate

Paving to shut lanes on 124th Northeast

A paving project will close all but one lane along 124th Avenue Northeast in the Kingsgate neighborhood between Kirkland and Woodinville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The work is the last phase of a $5.8 million King County project to improve safety between Northeast 132nd Street and Northeast 146th Place. Crews will continue striping lanes, installing crosswalk flashers and finishing landscaping through mid-April. For more information, visit the project Web site at www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/cip and click on the 124th Avenue Northeast link.

Redmond

Want to learn to row? Classes set to begin

Novices can learn to keep both oars in the water when the Sammamish Rowing Association’s beginner classes start April 2.

Classes, geared to all ages, meet twice weekly during each four-week session. Cost is $75.

Sammamish Rowing Association meets at 5022 West Lake Sammamish Blvd., less than a mile south of the Marymoor Park entrance.